Gail Ramsay Livres

Since the emergence of the modern Arab intellectual in the 19th century, Arabic literature has always followed and critically commented socio-political and cultural change, but also contributed to bringing it about. Focusing on crucial moments and factors as well as figures, ideas and organs, the two volumes of From New Values to New Aesthetics edited by Stephan Guth and Gail Ramsay approach the close connection between literature and socio-political and/or cultural history, between ‘scribe’ and ‘writer’, from two angles. While volume 1 (From Modernism to the 1980s) revisits the history of post-World War II modernism, trying to identify turning points in modern Arabic literature up to the 1980s, the contributions in volume 2 (Postmodernism and Thereafter) are explorations into what from today’s perspective appears as pre-‘Arab Spring’ literature.

Social criticism has been integral to modern Arabic literature, particularly within the Egyptian context. This book explores social criticism in blog narratives, examining how both classical and contemporary Arabic literary heritage is utilized and reinterpreted in Egyptian blogs. It highlights the recurring societal and political issues addressed in literature that also appear in these online platforms. A key focus is on how bloggers leverage their cultural and literary backgrounds to pursue social and political change. Many bloggers voice concerns that resonate with earlier generations, expressing dissatisfaction with the government's failure to provide democratic freedoms and emphasizing the urgent need to tackle poor governance, corruption, and poverty. The book argues that without addressing these fundamental issues and dismantling the old order, genuine change remains elusive. Ultimately, it raises critical questions about the future portrayal of society in literature and social media: will it reflect progress towards meaningful change, or will it continue to depict a status quo characterized by limited individual freedoms and a lack of social reform?